Chelsea leapt above Manchester United to go second in the Women’s Super League table as teenager Lexi Potter scored the winner against Brighton on her first senior start.
The defending champions beat United in the League Cup final on Sunday and rubbed salt into the wounds by nipping a point ahead of them in the WSL table with a 2-1 victory at Kingsmeadow.
Potter, the 19-year-old Cobham academy graduate, came in as one of three changes from the side who lifted the trophy at the weekend and turned in an impressive performance in midfield.
She made it a memorable outing in the 39th minute, rifling home from close range after neat touches from Aggie Beever-Jones and Alyssa Thompson.
Both teams had already exchanged goals to leave the scores tied at 1-1, Thompson heading the opener and Carla Camacho’s deflected effort following just three minutes later.
Marc Skinner’s United drew 0-0 at second-from-bottom West Ham, despite a handful of chances for the visitors.
Kinga Szemik was impenetrable in the Hammers’ goal and Red Devils substitute Melvine Malard had three good chances to settle it late on, including one hacked off the line by Eva Nystrom.
